Children put boxes with grass under their beds on the night of January 5th. (The grass is for the Three King's camels.) The Three King's bring gifts or presents which they leave under the children’s bed.

“After Three King's Day, we celebrate the "octavitas“ which made up a total of 24 additional days to Christmas. Christmas used to last till February, except now parents have to go back to work and children back to school.”

The extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and seemingly every imaginable living relative, gets together to feast and dance to Cuban music. This is followed by everyone attending midnight mass together.

Tables are decorated with poinsettias, (named after the former United States ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberto Poinsett.) The flower was discovered in Mexico and has become the symbol of Christmas throughout the world.

At about 7 PM, friends and family members start showing up at each other’s houses. By this time your ears are already used to the many BOOMs and BANGs from the noisy fireworks, that children start lighting up in the evening.

At midnight all the families count the seconds down to 12 when they hug and wish each other a “Merry Christmas.” Also some families practice a Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes at each second before midnight, making a wish for every grape eaten.

December 8th is a Colombian National Holiday, celebrated with a display of lights as each home will light hundreds of candles on the curb and sidewalk area. City streets and parks are illuminated with lights as well.

Venezuelan presebres range from the traditional depictions of the nativity scene to some bigger displays that combine modern-day electric trains and boats on the sea, along with the shepherds, kings, and the Christ child.

Processions, accompanied by musicians, work their way through the streets in the days before Christmas. On the last Sunday, food is delivered to the elderly as a way to honor the Magi who brought gifts to the Infant Jesus.

During the month of December, Argentineans drink iced beverages and stay in air-conditioned spaces o help keep cool. In some homes evergreen trees are decorated with cotton to simulate the snow found on the trees in the forests of the Northern Hemisphere.

On the eve of January 6th, children in Argentina place their shoes underneath the Christmas tree or beside their beds. They also leave hay and water outside their house for the horses of the Magi who bring them their gifts.

One tradition they share in common with their Spanish-speaking neighbors is to create a nativity scene or “Presépio.” (The word comes from the Hebrew word "presepium" which means a “bed of straw” for animals to sleep upon.)